John Bragg Stacks the Leaderboard in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Thermal, California (January 25, 2015): John Bragg captured the top spot again in the HITS Desert Circuit II $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix riding Social Hour for Laura Strasburg of Los Altos Hills, California.

Bragg, who earned a score of 88 in the first round and 87 in the second for a total of 175 for the first place win Friday,  also finished third on Deanna Sage’s Trousdale with scores of 86 and 87 to total 173, and fifth on Pamela Mollenhoff’s Lukatoni, scoring 84.50 and 85 to total 169.5.

“This was Social Hour's third win for three starts in these classes, the first being at this facility in November," said Bragg, who won last week’s Devoucoux Grand Prix on Social Hour. “Social Hour is an amazing horse -- big open stride, big scope, big soft jump -- and loves the impressive jumps.”

Second in the class was Jenny Karazissis, riding Legacy for Emily Sukert of Newport Coast, California, who scored 85.50 and 88 to total 173.50, followed closely by Bragg on Trousdale. Karazissis was pleased with her horse’s performance and the turnout of the class. "It's nice to get to show in the different rings each week with these Prix horses….Our horses have a nice experience galloping across this ground that we get to enjoy this whole circuit."

The $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final at the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York, this September, which gives West Coat riders an opportunity to have success in the final, including Bragg and Karazissis who have competed in the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix.

“Being first, third and fifth in this Hunter Prix was pretty special and a great kick off to the circuit and really nice to jump on the new footing in the hunter rings here,” said Bragg. “Thermal is a great start to a new year."


(c) ESI Photography
John Bragg on Laura Strasburg's Social Hour jump in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.


(c) ESI Photography
John Bragg on Laura Strasburg's Social Hour once again take first place in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix   

Place

Horse

Owner

Rider

Prize

  1. 1/2

Total

1

Social Hour

Laura Strasburg

John Bragg

$1,500

88/87

175

2

Legacy

Emily Sukert

Jenny Karazissis

$1,000

88.50/88

176.5

3

Trousdale

Deanna Sage

John Bragg

$700

86/87

173

4

Woodstock

Sabrina Hellman

Hope Glynn

$500

86.5/86

172.5

5

Lukatoni

Pamela Moellenhoff

John Bragg

$400

84.5/85

169.5

6

Exemplar

Stephen Borders

Tommi Clark

$325

83/86

169

7

Winfield

Lexie Looker

Jamie Taylor

$300

85/83

168

8

Channing

Sabrina Hellman

Eleanor Hellman

$275

82/84

166

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Stephanie Ray, of San Diego, California, won the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix on her own chestnut gelding Castle Hill, with scores of 80 and 84, to total 164. The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final, also in Saugerties at HITS-on-the-Hudson.

Molly Baumhoff followed up last week’s performance, which won her the Platinum Performance blue ribbon, with a terrific effort in Week II that earned her a second place win, again on Lauren Henry's Esteban La Paz, scoring 78 and 82, to total 160. Alex Maida, riding her own Carenzo, rounded out the top three leaderboard, earning 76 and 81, to total 157.


(c) ESI Photography
Stephanie Ray and her Castle Hill win the blue ribbon in the HITS Desert Circuit II $1,500 Platinum Performance Grand Prix.

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Place    

Horse    

Owner    

Rider    

Prize    

  1. 1/2

Total 

1

Castle Hill

Stephanie Ray

Stephanie Ray

$450

80/84

164

2

Esteban La Paz

Lauren Henry

Molly Baumhoff

$300

78/82

160

3

Carenzo

Alex Maida

Alex Maida

$200

76/81

157

4

Rockford

Lolly McLellan

Lolly McLellan

$150

77/79

156

5

Limited Edition

A&LV Equestrian Inc.

Isabella Danisi-Gonzalez

$125

82/72

154

6

Kensington

Stephanie Ray

Stephanie Ray

$100

75.5/78

153.5

7

Rio Negro

Yvette Lang-Einczig

Yvette Lang-Einczig

$100

74/79

153

8

Gruyere SM

Martha Howe Crowley

Elli Yeager

$75

72/72

144

Charles Owen Leading Hunter Rider
Bragg was named the HITS Desert Circuit II Charles Owen leading Hunter Rider, after his second consecutive Devoucoux Hunter Prix win. Bragg will receive a Charles Owen helmet for this honor.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, maker of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. Devoucoux offers a wide range of saddles in many colors and sizes and matching accessories. Devoucoux craftsmen are devoted to creating beautiful products that reflect their obsession with quality and lovingly finished work. For more information on Devoucoux, visit devoucoux.com.

About Platinum Performance
Platinum Performance provides more than 10 supplements essential to your horse’s health and conditioning in just one scoop. Platinum Performance® Equine addresses a horse's total body health from joint and hoof care to athletic performance and coat health, and is the 2014 sponsor of the $250,000 Hunter Prix Final and all qualifiers. For more information on Platinum Performance, visit platinumperformance.com.

About Charles Owen & Co.
Known throughout the world as the leader in equestrian helmet design, Charles Owen & Co. represents more than 100 years of innovation and style for a safer world. Each Charles Owen helmet is handcrafted using the highest quality materials. With the largest range of helmet styles and shapes, independently certified to up to four international equestrian safety standards, Charles Owen offers a wider range of protection in a potential accident. For further information, please visit www.charlesowen.com.


About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. produces high quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.

While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Mortgage Call, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.